Corps issues byway permit

SANDPOINT — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a final permit Wednesday for the proposed Sand Creek Byway project.

The corps released a draft permit on Sept. 21 for the U.S. Highway 95 re-routing proposal. The Idaho Transportation Department agreed on Sept. 28 to more than a dozen conditions designed to mitigate project impacts, clearing the way for a final permit.

The permit enables the state to work in the creek and adjacent wetlands to construct the new span of highway. Construction on the project is expected to start next spring.

The state has secured an encroachment permit from the Idaho Department of Lands, although two groups are calling on IDL Director George Bacon to overturn the permit approval. A decision on the administrative appeal is pending.

One of the groups appealing the IDL permit, the North Idaho Community Action Network, has said it is contemplating legal action against the corps for issuing the permit.